Hey I just picked up an SMS dirt box today. I don't know if anyone else on this forum besides the maker has tried one of these but the preliminary is A+. This pedal captures the MXR Dist+ AND MORE. It dials back better and has the best sounding range from clean to saturated that I think I've heard yet. I don't have to dime the left knob to match my clean tone. Very useful pedal. I like the 'vertical' setting on the little mini-toggle better for my single coil sound. More cutting.

Brad, You made a little plug for this pedal somewhere here a while ago but I can't find it. Hat's off. Do you still make it? Made any other pedals? There's none on SMS website.

I'll A/B it with my script logo Dist+ at the next gig and chime in again.

I only made 50 of those SMS Dirt Boxes. It's an interesting circuit using two transistors instead of an opamp, but does also use the reversed pair of clipping diodes like the MXR Dist+ pedal. It's almost a hybrid of a silicon Fuzz Face (sort of) and an MXR Dist+. It generates a bit of dirt in both places, where the MXR only generates dirt with the clipping diode pair. It is a pretty transparent and clear sound that doesn't dull the top end as so many pedals will.

I'm currently working on an overdrive pedal design that has a very flat and open EQ response, and with a real mild, almost "tubey" kind of drive. Designed to fatten up single coils and also help people with super clean, loud rigs get a natural clipping at any volume. Personaly, I'm wanting it to help us Jerry-heads dial in either a bit of subtle peak clipping, or even go a bit heavier to get a more '71, '72 Jerry dirt as he got with his McIntosh tube power amps. Currently Jeff Mattson is using a prototype of this pedal, and I'm pretty sure he leaves it on all the time. I hope to have them rolling and in production by the fall. John Kadlecik was using one briefly this past spring, but it died on him. It was probably some slop on my part when I hand built the thing. It's a pretty cool pedal, doesn't over EQ or "voice" the tone, lets the guitar sound like itself, and also lets the amp rig sound like itself. Just puts a bit of smoothing and fattening and warm dirt on top. I don't have a name for this pedal yet.

SarnoMusicSolutions wrote:I only made 50 of those SMS Dirt Boxes. It's an interesting circuit using two transistors instead of an opamp, but does also use the reversed pair of clipping diodes like the MXR Dist+ pedal. It's almost a hybrid of a silicon Fuzz Face (sort of) and an MXR Dist+. It generates a bit of dirt in both places, where the MXR only generates dirt with the clipping diode pair. It is a pretty transparent and clear sound that doesn't dull the top end as so many pedals will.

I'm currently working on an overdrive pedal design that has a very flat and open EQ response, and with a real mild, almost "tubey" kind of drive. Designed to fatten up single coils and also help people with super clean, loud rigs get a natural clipping at any volume. Personaly, I'm wanting it to help us Jerry-heads dial in either a bit of subtle peak clipping, or even go a bit heavier to get a more '71, '72 Jerry dirt as he got with his McIntosh tube power amps. Currently Jeff Mattson is using a prototype of this pedal, and I'm pretty sure he leaves it on all the time. I hope to have them rolling and in production by the fall. John Kadlecik was using one briefly this past spring, but it died on him. It was probably some slop on my part when I hand built the thing. It's a pretty cool pedal, doesn't over EQ or "voice" the tone, lets the guitar sound like itself, and also lets the amp rig sound like itself. Just puts a bit of smoothing and fattening and warm dirt on top. I don't have a name for this pedal yet.

Brad

Put my name on the waiting list too Brad! I remember you mentioning this when you were talking about Jeff's rig. It sounds to me it's going further into the production process which is good! Sooner the better, but of course get all the bugs out first. I would love to have it in my rack though, and not in pedal form. I barely have enough pedal space on my board as it is. I'm tired of getting my clipping from my booster before my amp. I sound more like John than Jerry. I would love to see a product out there that just nails the authenticity we're looking for.

We are officially moving forward on the new overdrive pedal, yet to be named. My CAD engineer and I are in the process of getting the circuit board laid out and also the metalwork designed. I'd like to have these available within 8 to 12 weeks.

SarnoMusicSolutions wrote:We are officially moving forward on the new overdrive pedal, yet to be named. My CAD engineer and I are in the process of getting the circuit board laid out and also the metalwork designed. I'd like to have these available within 8 to 12 weeks.

Disclaimer: I make and sell Buffers. I also sometimes Modify, Build and sell preamps and amplifiers. My opinions are not intended to be sales pitches. I am a one man shop and prefer to spend time with my wife and family, i work full time on call and love to spend my spare time doing other things. I only make, modify or build things for those that seek them.